Mariners notebook: Innings needed from Felix in finale with Texas

There are few options in the bullpen as Felix Hernandez takes the hill in Sunday's series finale with the Rangers.

BY SHANNON DRAYER

Aug 9, 2015, 12:57 PM Updated: 1:18 pm

With the bullpen taxed in Saturday's 11-inning loss, the M's are hoping for a long outing by Felix Hernandez. (AP)

(AP)

Felix Hernandez takes the hill Sunday, and the Mariners could desperately use innings from him. The state of the bullpen remains what it has been for the majority of the second half – taxed.

“We are where we are. We don’t have anybody,” Lloyd McClendon said before the game. “We got (Fernando) Rodney, (Carson) Smith, (Vidal) Nuno is going to the bullpen as an emergency today.”

Tomorrow’s starter Nuno in the pen? It doesn’t get much thinner than that. Also most likely not available for a third straight day: Franklin Gutierrez. The ankylosing spondilytis kept him out Friday, the flu yesterday and possibly today as well. Austin Jackson is not in the lineup, either.

“He’s worn out,” said McClendon.

With Jackson out, Ketel Marte will play center as the Mariners continue to take a look at him. What has impressed McClendon is his plate awareness. Already Marte has five walks with Seattle.

“It’s been pretty good up until yesterday. He swung at two balls in the dirt,” McClendon said. “But he does have good knowledge of the strike zone and that’s why he’s leading off. His on base percentage right now is somewhere around .340. He’s got a chance and we’ll see.”

Paxton throws first bullpen

James Paxton threw a 20-pitch bullpen before the game, his first since going on the DL. He threw all fastballs and all went well. Paxton hopes to add his off-speed pitches in his next bullpen session, and then finally the breaking pitches. A date for the next bullpen has not yet been set. It appears that the Mariners will go very slow with Paxton now that he is throwing off the mound and there is some question whether or not we will see him in a big league game this year.

“I think we’re a ways away on that,” McClendon answered when asked the importance of getting Paxton into a game this season. “We just need to continue to progress and hopefully get him healthy enough so that he can compete again.”

Lineup!

Ketel Marte, CF
Kyle Seager, 3B
Nelson Cruz, RF
Robinson Cano, 2B
Seth Smith, LF
Jesus Montero, 1B
Mark Trumbo, DH
Brad Miller, SS
Mike Zunino, C

Felix Hernandez, RHP

Notes

• Four innings from Mike Montgomery yesterday did not help the bullpen situation. Lloyd McClendon did not like what he saw from Montgomery, and it wasn’t just the quality of pitches that he was concerned about.

“One thing that he has to understand is that when he came into the big leagues, he was successful because the catcher put down a sign and he threw that pitch,” McClendon said. “Now he’s thinking too much. He’s shaking him off too much and it’s not acceptable. Just follow the game plan and pitch.”

• We will end this with some good, and recently when you talk about Mariners good, you are talking about offense– try that on for size.

– The team is batting .256 and averaging 4.3 runs per game since Edgar Martinez took over as hitting coach on June 20. Up until that day the Mariners had hit .233 and scored 3.38 RPG.

– Nelson Cruz is now the hits leader in MLB with 137 hits. Prince Fielder is second with 135.

– Mark Trumbo is batting .337 since July 4.

– Nelson Cruz’s 18-game hitting streak is the longest current streak in MLB.